Live from Las Vegas (10/23 Impact Recap)

A video package highlighting TNA’s 6-year history is aired. Tonight, the dream blossoms in high definition in Las Vegas.

A new Impact intro airs featuring the Cross the Line song, just as I predicted last week. We then see a shot of the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas and head to the inside as we are welcomed to tonight’s show by Mike Tenay and Don West, which will feature two title matches and a huge announcement from Mick Foley that will “change wrestling forever.”
Match 1: Velvet Sky vs. Christy Hemme
The match starts and Hemme goes right on the attack until Angelina Love sprays perfume into Hemme’s eyes as Cute Kip has the referee distracted. Sky takes control of the match as Tenay and West talk about Kurt Angle also having a huge announcement to make tonight. Back to the action, Hemme is able to dodge out of the way of a corner splash and comes back with the FFG to pick up the win.

We join the broadcast team at the announce table who run down the huge card for the night that features an X Division Title match and a Knockout Championship match. Plus, we will get to see the Tag Team Text-Off Gauntlet and Booker T reveals the contents of his briefcase.

Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle who has a huge announcement of his own. Angle says that he had to do something drastic and change the face of professional wrestling all together. Booker T is also present in the room who says they veterans will take what they want. Kevin Nash is also present in the room who says this business is all about respect.

Borash says that the young stars are having an uprising and the odds are stacked up against the veterans. Angle says they are they are the three greatest wrestlers of all time but they will be bringing a fourth man with them. Sting, without makeup, walks in and says that all they wanted was a little respect and now they will be demanding respect. Sting leaves the room as Angle raises a toast to the “Main Event Mafia.”

Lauren is stationed outside and is awaiting the arrival of Mick Foley. A Volkswagen Bug pulls up behind her and Foley comes out of it. Lauren tries to pry for some inside information but he doesn’t offer any. Instead, he says it is really big.

Booker T’s music hits and he comes out to the ring with his wife, Sharmell, and are carrying the mysterious briefcase. Booker says it is time to share with the world the one thing that will change the landscape of TNA. Booker opens the briefcase and pulls out a new championship belt with a red leather strap. Booker calls it the legends championship and says that it belongs to him and him only.

Christian Cage’s music interrupts as he makes his way to the ring. Cage says a legend is a person whose career is so great that they command respect. Cage says that Booker has a good track record, but he doesn’t have the respect. Booker says tonight is a celebration and it is about Cage and offers him a spot in the Main Event Mafia. Cage says he isn’t interested and challenges him to a match for the Legends Championship at Turning Point. Booker agrees to the match, but if Booker wins, Cage has to join the Mafia with no questions asked.

Lauren is backstage with Matt Morgan and Abyss and talks about their Text-Off. Morgan says that he will be the only one competing in the match as Abyss is too injured. Abyss tries to convince Morgan that he is fine and says that he had a special session with his therapist and he learned that he has to think for himself. Abyss says his burns are going to heal and says that he has unfinished business with Kurt Angle. Morgan says that he has them all taken care of and walks away. Abyss tells Lauren that he has to do something about Kurt Angle.

Jeremy Borash is backstage with Jeff Jarrett and Borash tries to pry for some inside information about Mick Foley’s announcement. Jarrett won’t dive into any details and says that he is going to let Foley make the announcement himself. As for Kurt Angle’s challenge for a match at Turning Point, he isn’t going to let him be coaxed into the ring one more time.

Match 2: Jay Lethal vs. Sheik Abdul Bashir (X Division Title)
Bashir goes on the attack before the bell rings and applies a head lock on Lethal, until he is able to turn the match around with a hurricanrana. Lethal sends Bashir out to the floor and follows with a dive through the ropes. Bashir is rolled back into the ring and Lethal goes for a flying elbow drop but misses. Bashir then delivers his WMD DDT to Lethal and picks up the pin fall. That was quick.

Lauren is backstage with Samoa Joe and AJ Styles and asks about their thoughts on the Main Event Mafia. Styles says that TNA came to them six years ago and now it has come to this with the veterans going up against the young guys. Styles says this isn’t about them, but about TNA.

Joe is a little more irate and says that he is going to hunt Kevin Nash down. Joe says that he is going to come after Nash’s career since he cost him the World Championship. He then warns the rest of the Mafia about taking their careers as well if they try to step in the way.

A Suicide vignette airs as we head into an aerial shot of the Vegas Strip. Mike Tenay informs us that there is some commotion going on in the back between Rhino and Sheik Abdul Bashir. Rhino screams at Bashir and tells him that he doesn’t like what he has been saying about America. Rhino takes him up on his open challenge but Bashir kicks Rhino below the belt before dropping one of the lights on him.

Match 3: Hardcore Tag Team Text-Off Gauntlet
Competitor will enter the ring every 60 seconds and will be eliminated by being thrown over the top rope. Once the final two are remaining, it will turn into a tag team match. James Storm is the first participant in the gauntlet as we head into a commercial break.

We return to Impact to see that Brother Ray is the second participant in the gauntlet. The text polls are now open to vote for which weapon is legal in this match and the options are ladders, tables or chairs. Ray is in control of Storm and almost eliminates Storm, but he is able to hold on.

Robert Roode is the next one in the match and Beer Money uses their numbers to work over Brother Ray. Fortunately, Brother Devon is the next one out to help his partner and even the odds. Devon takes out both members of Beer Money as the fans chant for tables.

Hernandez is the next one out and goes after all four of his opponents. Team 3D take Hernandez out with a decapitation clothesline as Homicide is the next one out. Homicide nails both Ray and Devon with a dropkick as he flies into the ring. Homicide works over Team 3D for a bit as Matt Morgan is the next one out.

Morgan comes in and quickly eliminates Homicide and Devon. Morgan then eliminates Hernandez with a back body drop and the LAX are eliminated. Abyss is the next one out and Morgan tells him to not get in the ring. As he is distracted, Roode eliminates Morgan as Beer Money head out to the floor to attack Abyss.

Dave Penzer announces that the weapon chosen is tables as Team 3D obliges with the vote and set up a table in the ring. Devon pours lighter fluid on the table as fans start tossing lighters into the ring. Abyss slides into the ring and nails both Ray and Devon, who has already been eliminated but is still in the ring.

Abyss grabs a lighter and looks to light the table, but Devon nails Abyss with a low blow and Ray eliminates him with a clothesline. The match has now turned into a tag team match with Beer Money going up against Team 3D.

Beer Money attack Team 3D from behind as the crowd says that they want fire. Team 3D then drive Roode through the table with a 3D and is about to win the match as Rudy Charles is pulled out of the ring by Jacqueline. The distraction allows Storm to spit beer into Devon’s face and he picks up the quick pin fall to win the match.

Mike Tenay and Don West hype the rest of tonight’s card as Kurt Angle’s music hits and he comes out with a microphone in his hand. Angle stares down Dave Penzer as he walks past him before getting into the ring. Angle says he doesn’t care about Mick Foley’s announcement and instead wants to get his hands on Jeff Jarrett.

Jeff Jarrett’s music hits as he comes out and says their feud is over and done. Jarrett says with the talent in TNA, there is no reason for him to be in the ring. Jarrett says it’s not about them anymore but Angle disagrees. Jarrett says there is a locker room full of guys that would love to have a match with him as Abyss sneaks in from behind and knocks him down with a right hand. Abyss tries for a Black Hole Slam, but Angle is able to escape and he slides out of the ring.

A video package highlighting Awesome Kong’s time in TNA is aired. It shows how she dominated the Knockout Division until Taylor Wilde came in and surprisingly won the Knockout Championship.

Lauren is backstage with Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed, who says that she is tired of Taylor Wilde and wants new blood. Tonight, Kong will take back what is hers and warns Taylor that it will be her last match, period. Jeremy Borash is standing by with Taylor who says that Kong is going to have to end her career to take the title from her.

Match 4: Awesome Kong vs. Taylor Wilde (Knockout Championship)
Taylor Wilde tries to use her quickness against Awesome Kong in the early going but Kong’s power is too much for her. Kong tosses Wilde around the ring and uses her brute strength to control the match. Kong delivers a choke slam and goes for a pin fall but Taylor is able to kick out at a count of two. Taylor then counters an Awesome Bomb into a face plant and turns the tide of the match.

Taylor nails Kong with a missile dropkick but isn’t able to keep Kong down long enough to win the match. Taylor then connects with an hurricanrana, but Kong is able to kick out again. Saeed finally trips up Taylor and Kong delivers an Awesome Bomb to Taylor to pick up the pin fall and we have a new Knockout Champion.

Former AWA World Champion, Nick Bockwinkel, is shown in attendance as we head into the main event.

Match 5: Sting & Kevin Nash vs. Samoa Joe & AJ Styles
The bell rings and Styles starts off against Nash as they battle to a standstill and they tag in their partners. Samoa Joe and Sting meet in the middle and Joe greets him with a slap to the face before taking Sting down with a kick to Sting’s face. Styles is tagged in and Sting takes him down with a jawbreaker as the Mafia takes control of the match and we head into a commercial.

We return to see the Mafia still working over Styles in the ring. Styles turns the tide with a Pele kick as the two make tags to their partners. Joe goes right after Nash and takes him down with a kick to the face and a back splash. Joe begins working over Nash in the corner and Sting comes in to interfere, but he ends up nailing Nash with a Stinger Splash. Joe dumps Sting out to the floor but Nash nails Joe with the World Championship and steals the victory.

Styles attacks the Mafia after the match and Joe, who is busted open, locks in a rear naked choke on Nash. Kurt Angle and Booker T come out to help their new partners and Booker nails Styles with the Legends Championship and also busts him open. The four then stand tall in the ring after beating down Styles and Joe.

Mick Foley makes his way to the six-sided ring to make his major announcement. Foley talks about the meeting he had with Jeff Jarrett and talks about the amount of money that he has made. Foley then talks about his frugal and modest ways with his money and begins talking about making an investment as he is interrupted by the Main Event Mafia.

Kurt Angle walks out to the ring and delivers a head butt to Foley that knocks him down. Foley stands back up and laughs and talks about Jarrett talking to him about making a major investment in TNA. Foley says he is now a major shareholder in TNA and Angle just delivered a headbutt to his new boss.

Kurt Angle and the rest of the Mafia look stunned as Foley tells them that he cares about TNA and that he believes in the company. Foley says all five of them were there when the business exploded and they are now on the verge of another big thing. Foley then tells Angle that he can either make history or be history and says the choice is up to him.

Confetti drops from the ceiling as Angle leaves the ring and the rest of the Mafia stares down their new boss and this live edition of Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Christy Hemme defeated Velvet Sky by pin fall.
- Sheik Abdul Bashir defeated Jay Lethal by pin fall to retain the X Division Title.
- Beer Money, Inc. defeated Team 3D is a Tag Team Text-Off Gauntlet.
- Awesome Kong defeated Taylor Wilde by pin fall to become the new Knockout Champion.
- Sting & Kevin Nash defeated Samoa Joe & AJ Styles by pin fall.

Starman’s Thoughts
TNA took Impact on the road with this live edition and hyped this show to no end. It really had a pay-per-view feel to it, however, the execution of the matches made this huge card come off like a typical edition of Impact. With so much going into this show, it is unfortunate for it to come off like that.

It didn’t help matters that venue they were in wasn’t suited for a wrestling event. Instead of an arena, the show took place in what appeared to be small room with bright walls and music décor that distracted from the action. I’m not trying to bash the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, but the Joint appeared to be better suited for a convention or a craft show instead of a televised wrestling event. The small crowd also didn’t add anything special to the broadcast either.

What did look good, though, was the new Legends Championship that Booker T revealed from his briefcase. I actually think that it looked better than the World Championship and it looks like the first title defense will be in a couple of weeks at Turning Point. Whether or not they will treat this as a legitimate championship remains to be seen, but a new title is something long overdue in TNA.

Since I am on the subject of championships, we had the opportunity to witness a title change hands tonight as Awesome Kong defeated Taylor Wilde to regain the Knockout Championship. In my mind, this title change was needed as I personally think that Taylor Wilde is doing nothing for the Knockout Division. Aside from an improbable run with the title and always defying the odds, she really didn’t offer much. To me, she is almost like a female version of John Cena, without all of the personality.

Aside from that title match, we got to see a very quick and seemingly pointless X Division Title match between Sheik Abdul Bashir and Jay Lethal. As I said before, this event was hyped in the same way a pay-per-view is and these two got to wrestle in a match that lasted about three minutes. That’s not to mention the fact that Jay Lethal won the opportunity to be in the match by escaping the Steel Asylum at TNA’s biggest pay-per-view of the year. I’m glad to see that the Steel Asylum match meant that much to warrant a three minute X Division match on cable television.

The Hardcore Tag Team Text-Off Gauntlet was another seemingly pointless match. I thought it was strange that two heel tag teams would make it to the final part of the match. Plus, why was Devon a part of the gauntlet match and allowed to be in the ring after he was eliminated but before the tag team match started? None of it really made any sense to me, but I guess it makes about as much sense as how spitting beer into someone’s face can cause them to lose the match. It’s beer, not battery acid.

Even with all of the flaws, the night really was all about Mick Foley’s major announcement and that finally delivered. Foley announcing that he was a major shareholder is a nice progression and gives him an on-air role to work with. However, I am wondering now that with Foley as “the boss,” if Jim Cornette will still have the role as an authority figure as a member of TNA management. Best case scenario for TNA is to pair the duo together and use both of their talents at the same time.

Speaking of being paired up, I will go on the record to say that I love the newly formed faction of the Main Event Mafia and hope this finally makes Sting a heel in the eyes of the fans who still cheer for him. I feel that it would be beneficial for Sting, though, to wrestle without his usual makeup and roll with his newly formed faction in class with a suit and tie like the rest of them. That look isn’t easy to pull off when you have black and white grease paint all over your face. Plus, it is time to shed that decade old look and let his character evolve a bit.

In closing, I will say that tonight’s show didn’t quite live up to the hype, but it got the ball rolling for a major angle that will hopefully play out in the upcoming months. Also, I am hopefully that this foray into live television is a sign of things to come and wish that TNA is more selective in the venues that they decide to host their live events in.